“No Matter What”
Bible Stories: How To Understand and Apply Old Testament Narratives
Family Bible Week 2012 :: Fathers’ Day
July 17, 2012 :: Daniel 3:12-30
We’ll return, Lord-willing, to the book of Judges next Sunday with Shamgar, “the one-verse judge.”
But this week, our Adult Class at Family Bible Week has picked Daniel 3 as our sermon passage for today, a message I’m going to call “No Matter What.”
Yes, you heard me right. I didn’t pick this week’s text; the adult class did.
You can blame them!
We did something new this week. In fourteen years of ministry at Lanse Free Church, I have made the decision (prayerfully) about what should be the passage that I preach on Sundays.
But since we’re entering our fifteenth year of pastoral ministry here, I thought it might be time to do something different.
Our adult class this week studied what I call, “Bible Stories” that is “How to Understand and Apply Old Testament Narratives” to our lives today.
On Monday night, we did Ehud the left-handed judge and saw how I came preach what I did last Sunday.
On Tuesday night, we did the rescue of Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
On Wednesday night, we studied Moses’ adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter and the defiance of the Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1.
On Thursday night, we did Daniel’s adventure in the lion’s den. And then I gave the adult class their choice.
Name a story from the Old Testament, we picked out five. We took a vote, and I would apply what we learned about how to interpret and apply Bible stories to our lives from whatever passage our class picked.
Because All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
And our adult class, going with the theme of fire-fighting, picked Daniel chapter 3.
There was one stipulation from me, however, and that was that anyone in our class would be ready to help me this morning as we went along.
So, our adult class is to be ready to answer some questions about Daniel 3 as we dive into it this morning.
If this plan goes well, maybe we should do it more often to have you pick the passages!
Bible Stories: How To Understand and Apply Old Testament Narratives
Family Bible Week 2012 :: Fathers’ Day
July 17, 2012 :: Daniel 3:12-30
We’ll return, Lord-willing, to the book of Judges next Sunday with Shamgar, “the one-verse judge.”
But this week, our Adult Class at Family Bible Week has picked Daniel 3 as our sermon passage for today, a message I’m going to call “No Matter What.”
Yes, you heard me right. I didn’t pick this week’s text; the adult class did.
You can blame them!
We did something new this week. In fourteen years of ministry at Lanse Free Church, I have made the decision (prayerfully) about what should be the passage that I preach on Sundays.
But since we’re entering our fifteenth year of pastoral ministry here, I thought it might be time to do something different.
Our adult class this week studied what I call, “Bible Stories” that is “How to Understand and Apply Old Testament Narratives” to our lives today.
On Monday night, we did Ehud the left-handed judge and saw how I came preach what I did last Sunday.
On Tuesday night, we did the rescue of Lot from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.
On Wednesday night, we studied Moses’ adoption by Pharaoh’s daughter and the defiance of the Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1.
On Thursday night, we did Daniel’s adventure in the lion’s den. And then I gave the adult class their choice.
Name a story from the Old Testament, we picked out five. We took a vote, and I would apply what we learned about how to interpret and apply Bible stories to our lives from whatever passage our class picked.
Because All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
And our adult class, going with the theme of fire-fighting, picked Daniel chapter 3.
There was one stipulation from me, however, and that was that anyone in our class would be ready to help me this morning as we went along.
So, our adult class is to be ready to answer some questions about Daniel 3 as we dive into it this morning.
If this plan goes well, maybe we should do it more often to have you pick the passages!
Okay, class, first question.
What are the common story-telling-elements in most if not every good narrative?
Characters - the actors in and doing the story.
Plot - the problem or conflict and how it plays out.
Setting - the when and the where that the story takes place within.
Structure - the scenes, and often speeches, and dialogue between characters
Style - the unique approach and tricks of the author to get across their story.
There are probably others, but those are the five that we talked a lot about this week.
Before we start reading, we should probably establish at least one of those for this story–setting.
Anybody from our class able to tell us something about the setting of this story? When and where it happened?
This story takes place in Babylon, not in Israel.
And it takes place during the exile. Not before or after.
This is a long time since the book of Judges that we’re normally in right now.
There has been a monarchy, a kingdom, which has even split into two and gone through many many kings.
And the downward spiral of the monarchy has happened and God has judged the nation of Israel and sent His people into exile from the promised land.
That’s when and that’s where.
Next question. Who are the major characters in Daniel chapter 3.
How about Daniel? No, he’s not in this chapter. That’s strange....
Who else?
A king named Nebuchadnezzer. He was introduced in the first two chapters of Daniel. He is very powerful and very prideful. He was given a message in a dream in chapter 2 that said that he was the head of gold of big statue.
And it appears that this went to his head. {Pun intended!}
Who else are main characters?
Hanniah, Mishael, and Azariah. Right?
Actually, yes, those are the Hebrew names of these three bright young leaders that, with Daniel, were taken into captivity during the exile.
Hanniah, Mishael, and Azariah. And they were given the Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego.
And there are other, unnamed characters, as well.
But there is one more main character. Who have we missed?
The LORD.
We learned this week that the LORD is the main character in the whole Bible.
It’s all about Him. Glory to His name.
So, even as we read about these characters and the plot they get into, we need to keep one ear cocked to hear what this story has to say about the LORD.
Ready? Chapter 3, verse 1.
“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.”
That is quite a statue. It’s probably gold-plated, because the world hasn’t seen enough gold mined to fill a statue like that. Ninety feet high and nine feet wide.
Why? V.2
“He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.”
What are the common story-telling-elements in most if not every good narrative?
Characters - the actors in and doing the story.
Plot - the problem or conflict and how it plays out.
Setting - the when and the where that the story takes place within.
Structure - the scenes, and often speeches, and dialogue between characters
Style - the unique approach and tricks of the author to get across their story.
There are probably others, but those are the five that we talked a lot about this week.
Before we start reading, we should probably establish at least one of those for this story–setting.
Anybody from our class able to tell us something about the setting of this story? When and where it happened?
This story takes place in Babylon, not in Israel.
And it takes place during the exile. Not before or after.
This is a long time since the book of Judges that we’re normally in right now.
There has been a monarchy, a kingdom, which has even split into two and gone through many many kings.
And the downward spiral of the monarchy has happened and God has judged the nation of Israel and sent His people into exile from the promised land.
That’s when and that’s where.
Next question. Who are the major characters in Daniel chapter 3.
How about Daniel? No, he’s not in this chapter. That’s strange....
Who else?
A king named Nebuchadnezzer. He was introduced in the first two chapters of Daniel. He is very powerful and very prideful. He was given a message in a dream in chapter 2 that said that he was the head of gold of big statue.
And it appears that this went to his head. {Pun intended!}
Who else are main characters?
Hanniah, Mishael, and Azariah. Right?
Actually, yes, those are the Hebrew names of these three bright young leaders that, with Daniel, were taken into captivity during the exile.
Hanniah, Mishael, and Azariah. And they were given the Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego.
And there are other, unnamed characters, as well.
But there is one more main character. Who have we missed?
The LORD.
We learned this week that the LORD is the main character in the whole Bible.
It’s all about Him. Glory to His name.
So, even as we read about these characters and the plot they get into, we need to keep one ear cocked to hear what this story has to say about the LORD.
Ready? Chapter 3, verse 1.
“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.”
That is quite a statue. It’s probably gold-plated, because the world hasn’t seen enough gold mined to fill a statue like that. Ninety feet high and nine feet wide.
Why? V.2
“He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.”
Now, wait a second.
This is an example of style.
Did Daniel need to repeat that line in verse 3 and that was in verse 2?
The one about the “satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials”?
No, he didn’t.
Why do you think he did?
I think he’s being funny.
Sometimes repetition is emphasize the thing being repeated.
And it is emphasizing it, but I think he’s poking fun at Nebuchadnezzar and his stooges. We’re supposed to chuckle when it’s read.
However, Nebuchadnezzar’s plan is no laughing matter. V.4
“Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’”
However dubious the ruler and dumb are his plans, this is serious business.
If you do not fall down and worship the golden image, you will be executed in the hottest way imaginable.
How would you like to live in that kind of a religious environment?
Now, notice, that King Nebuchadnezzar has not said you can’t worship the god you like. You can do that if you want.
But you must worship this god.
And I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that this 90 foot tall god looked a lot like a certain king of Babylon.
“National unity will be promoted if everybody bows down.
And I mean, everybody.
Hit it, boys!” V.7
“Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”
“Muhuhahahaha!”
How good that must have felt for King Nebuchadnezzar! His planned worked.
The royal Babylonian orchestra played the fanfare for the golden image, and everybody fell on their faces.
That’s the end of the first scene.
If you are keeping track, there are really only two scenes. It all seems to take place in a very short amount of time. And the second scene has two main parts, before and after.
Scene #2. V.8
“At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon–Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego–who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.’”
They didn’t bow down!
Why did these astrologers care? Was it written in the stars?
No, this was probably just another case of ugly office politics.
These were co-workers of Hanniah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they were probably enflamed with the green-eyed-monster of jealousy.
The Hebrew boys had risen quickly in the ranks and were envied and hated by their peers and so were finked upon.
“O king, you have issued a decree, in your infinite wisdom, that if [that long list of instruments] played, we all bowed down. But these fellows didn’t. Get ‘em!”
There’s the plot for you.
There is a plot within the plot.
What will happen?
First, the king will get angry. V.13
“Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, [and given a chance to prove their accusers wrong] and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? [We’ll take a little test.] Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’”
Oooh, Oooh! I know, I know!
But Nebuchadnezzar does not. He should, but he does not.
Why should he?
Because of his servant Daniel and what he’s learned from him.
Where is Daniel?
Are we to assume that because these three men are accused and dragged before the king, that the Daniel has succumbed and bowed down before the golden image?
Class, what you say to that, from what we learned this week?
All narratives are selective. They don’t tell us everything we’d like to know.
Maybe Daniel was out of town that week or had another job to do. Maybe he was on vacation.
Or maybe he just wasn’t noticed and picked on like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were.
I don’t think we should assume that Daniel gave in. He’s not that kind of a man. We can see that in chapter 6.
And because we don’t know, we shouldn’t make anything of it and it’s not the point of the story.
Here’s the point of the story: will they bow down now or not? Will they break the first of the ten commandments, “You shall have no other gods before me.”
And we find out the answer from their own mouths. Listen to the speech of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Verse 16.
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’”
No. Matter. What.
“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.”
Is there more to the story?
Yes, there is a climax to this plot. And a resolution. V.24
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ [Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.” They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’
What is going on here?
“Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.”
Now, that is storytelling!
“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.’
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.”
Okay, class, we learned about two mistakes that we often make when it comes to applying Bible stories to our lives.
Riding on the rumble strips in this direction is what:
Jump too quickly to application.
We need to figure out what the story means before we go applying it.
Does this story sit in your Bibles to tell you what kind of music to listen to?
Does it sit in your Bibles to tell you to disobey whatever the government says to do?
Does it sit in your Bibles to tell you how dress when you are barbecuing? Of course not.
But we could jump to some of those conclusions if we aren’t paying attention.
But what is the error on the other side of the road, the rumble strips on the left?
Not getting to application.
We love to read the story and then go do whatever we feel like.
But this story exists to motivate God’s people to action.
To motivate God’s people to stay faithful even when they are far from home in conditions are far from perfect.
Do you feel like that today?
Far from home and in conditions far from perfect?
This world is not our home. America is not our home.
We are just passing through.
We are exiles and strangers just passing through.
But this world wants us to bow down and compromise and live for its values and worship its gods.
The question is, will we give in?
Here are three applications from this Bible story.
#1. DON’T BOW DOWN. NO MATTER WHAT.
Shad, Mesh, and Abed did not bow down.
They did not compromise. They stayed faithful to the one true God.
And they made it look easy!
Is it easy?
It is not easy most of the time.
Everybody else is bowing down.
Everybody else is doing it.
Have you heard someone say that recently?
“Everybody else does it.”
Have you said that recently?
Don’t go with the flow. Don’t be like everyone else. Don’t put another god before the LORD.
No matter what. Don’t bow down.
#2. TRUST GOD AND DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT. NO MATTER WHAT.
This impressed the king so much that he praised them afterwards. V.28
“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego . . . They trusted in him and defied [my!] command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
They trusted Him and did what was right.
Why?
Because they knew Him.
I love their speech before the King in verses 16-18.
It is realistic and full of faith at the same time. Did you notice that? V.16
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. [We serve a greater authority whom we will answer to.] If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not [choose to do so], we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’”
They had no promise that God would save them from the fire.
But they knew God.
They knew what He is able to do.
Do you know God?
Do you know what God is able to do?
They knew that God was a deliverer.
We saw that again and again this week in our class–God delights to deliver His people.
That’s what God was doing at the Cross.
God was delivering His people from their bondage to sin and Satan and self.
Jesus died to set His people free. To save, to rescue, to deliver.
“He will rescue us from your hand....”
So, no matter what, we will trust Him and do what we know is right.
Are you tempted in life right now to cut some corners and do what you know is wrong?
My guess is that most of us here what to do what is right.
But it seems so SCARY!
“I can’t do that.”
“You don’t know what would happen to me if I did that.”
“I can’t tell her that.”
“I can’t break that off.”
“I can’t go there.”
I’d get burnt.
It seems to scary.
But this Bible story says, “Trust God and Do What You Know Is Right.”
Because (as Nebuchadnezzar so rightly says in verse 29), “No other god can save in this way.”
He is mighty to save!
He can turn everything upside right.
Your world might seem upside down right now, but if God can do Daniel 3, He can turn your world upside up.
Trust Him and Do What You Know Is Right.
#3. BE BOLD FOR THE LORD. NO MATTER WHAT.
Talk back to the evil rulers of this world that have you under their thumb.
Talk back to those who want your worship and tell them, “No way. I know my God, and I will not forsake Him. If I die, I die, but I will not serve your gods or bow down to you.”
Be bold and tell others about Jesus.
Family Bible Week is only a success if we go out and tell the world about Jesus afterwards.
If we just gather and have a good time and sing fun songs and enjoy ourselves and then don’t lift a finger to reach the world, we have just wasted a week.
But if enjoy ourselves and enjoy our church family and sing and study, and then go be bold for Jesus, it makes every minute worthwhile.
Nebuchadnezzar was overly zealous to command that everyone everywhere not speak against the LORD or get cut into piece and their homes destroyed, but he was right when he said, “no other god can save in this way.”
Let’s tell everyone about Him. No matter what.
This is an example of style.
Did Daniel need to repeat that line in verse 3 and that was in verse 2?
The one about the “satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials”?
No, he didn’t.
Why do you think he did?
I think he’s being funny.
Sometimes repetition is emphasize the thing being repeated.
And it is emphasizing it, but I think he’s poking fun at Nebuchadnezzar and his stooges. We’re supposed to chuckle when it’s read.
However, Nebuchadnezzar’s plan is no laughing matter. V.4
“Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’”
However dubious the ruler and dumb are his plans, this is serious business.
If you do not fall down and worship the golden image, you will be executed in the hottest way imaginable.
How would you like to live in that kind of a religious environment?
Now, notice, that King Nebuchadnezzar has not said you can’t worship the god you like. You can do that if you want.
But you must worship this god.
And I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that this 90 foot tall god looked a lot like a certain king of Babylon.
“National unity will be promoted if everybody bows down.
And I mean, everybody.
Hit it, boys!” V.7
“Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”
“Muhuhahahaha!”
How good that must have felt for King Nebuchadnezzar! His planned worked.
The royal Babylonian orchestra played the fanfare for the golden image, and everybody fell on their faces.
That’s the end of the first scene.
If you are keeping track, there are really only two scenes. It all seems to take place in a very short amount of time. And the second scene has two main parts, before and after.
Scene #2. V.8
“At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon–Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego–who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.’”
They didn’t bow down!
Why did these astrologers care? Was it written in the stars?
No, this was probably just another case of ugly office politics.
These were co-workers of Hanniah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they were probably enflamed with the green-eyed-monster of jealousy.
The Hebrew boys had risen quickly in the ranks and were envied and hated by their peers and so were finked upon.
“O king, you have issued a decree, in your infinite wisdom, that if [that long list of instruments] played, we all bowed down. But these fellows didn’t. Get ‘em!”
There’s the plot for you.
There is a plot within the plot.
What will happen?
First, the king will get angry. V.13
“Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, [and given a chance to prove their accusers wrong] and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? [We’ll take a little test.] Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’”
Oooh, Oooh! I know, I know!
But Nebuchadnezzar does not. He should, but he does not.
Why should he?
Because of his servant Daniel and what he’s learned from him.
Where is Daniel?
Are we to assume that because these three men are accused and dragged before the king, that the Daniel has succumbed and bowed down before the golden image?
Class, what you say to that, from what we learned this week?
All narratives are selective. They don’t tell us everything we’d like to know.
Maybe Daniel was out of town that week or had another job to do. Maybe he was on vacation.
Or maybe he just wasn’t noticed and picked on like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were.
I don’t think we should assume that Daniel gave in. He’s not that kind of a man. We can see that in chapter 6.
And because we don’t know, we shouldn’t make anything of it and it’s not the point of the story.
Here’s the point of the story: will they bow down now or not? Will they break the first of the ten commandments, “You shall have no other gods before me.”
And we find out the answer from their own mouths. Listen to the speech of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Verse 16.
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’”
No. Matter. What.
“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.”
Is there more to the story?
Yes, there is a climax to this plot. And a resolution. V.24
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ [Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.” They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’
What is going on here?
“Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.”
Now, that is storytelling!
“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.’
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.”
Okay, class, we learned about two mistakes that we often make when it comes to applying Bible stories to our lives.
Riding on the rumble strips in this direction is what:
Jump too quickly to application.
We need to figure out what the story means before we go applying it.
Does this story sit in your Bibles to tell you what kind of music to listen to?
Does it sit in your Bibles to tell you to disobey whatever the government says to do?
Does it sit in your Bibles to tell you how dress when you are barbecuing? Of course not.
But we could jump to some of those conclusions if we aren’t paying attention.
But what is the error on the other side of the road, the rumble strips on the left?
Not getting to application.
We love to read the story and then go do whatever we feel like.
But this story exists to motivate God’s people to action.
To motivate God’s people to stay faithful even when they are far from home in conditions are far from perfect.
Do you feel like that today?
Far from home and in conditions far from perfect?
This world is not our home. America is not our home.
We are just passing through.
We are exiles and strangers just passing through.
But this world wants us to bow down and compromise and live for its values and worship its gods.
The question is, will we give in?
Here are three applications from this Bible story.
#1. DON’T BOW DOWN. NO MATTER WHAT.
Shad, Mesh, and Abed did not bow down.
They did not compromise. They stayed faithful to the one true God.
And they made it look easy!
Is it easy?
It is not easy most of the time.
Everybody else is bowing down.
Everybody else is doing it.
Have you heard someone say that recently?
“Everybody else does it.”
Have you said that recently?
Don’t go with the flow. Don’t be like everyone else. Don’t put another god before the LORD.
No matter what. Don’t bow down.
#2. TRUST GOD AND DO WHAT YOU KNOW IS RIGHT. NO MATTER WHAT.
This impressed the king so much that he praised them afterwards. V.28
“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego . . . They trusted in him and defied [my!] command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
They trusted Him and did what was right.
Why?
Because they knew Him.
I love their speech before the King in verses 16-18.
It is realistic and full of faith at the same time. Did you notice that? V.16
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. [We serve a greater authority whom we will answer to.] If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not [choose to do so], we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’”
They had no promise that God would save them from the fire.
But they knew God.
They knew what He is able to do.
Do you know God?
Do you know what God is able to do?
They knew that God was a deliverer.
We saw that again and again this week in our class–God delights to deliver His people.
That’s what God was doing at the Cross.
God was delivering His people from their bondage to sin and Satan and self.
Jesus died to set His people free. To save, to rescue, to deliver.
“He will rescue us from your hand....”
So, no matter what, we will trust Him and do what we know is right.
Are you tempted in life right now to cut some corners and do what you know is wrong?
My guess is that most of us here what to do what is right.
But it seems so SCARY!
“I can’t do that.”
“You don’t know what would happen to me if I did that.”
“I can’t tell her that.”
“I can’t break that off.”
“I can’t go there.”
I’d get burnt.
It seems to scary.
But this Bible story says, “Trust God and Do What You Know Is Right.”
Because (as Nebuchadnezzar so rightly says in verse 29), “No other god can save in this way.”
He is mighty to save!
He can turn everything upside right.
Your world might seem upside down right now, but if God can do Daniel 3, He can turn your world upside up.
Trust Him and Do What You Know Is Right.
#3. BE BOLD FOR THE LORD. NO MATTER WHAT.
Talk back to the evil rulers of this world that have you under their thumb.
Talk back to those who want your worship and tell them, “No way. I know my God, and I will not forsake Him. If I die, I die, but I will not serve your gods or bow down to you.”
Be bold and tell others about Jesus.
Family Bible Week is only a success if we go out and tell the world about Jesus afterwards.
If we just gather and have a good time and sing fun songs and enjoy ourselves and then don’t lift a finger to reach the world, we have just wasted a week.
But if enjoy ourselves and enjoy our church family and sing and study, and then go be bold for Jesus, it makes every minute worthwhile.
Nebuchadnezzar was overly zealous to command that everyone everywhere not speak against the LORD or get cut into piece and their homes destroyed, but he was right when he said, “no other god can save in this way.”
Let’s tell everyone about Him. No matter what.
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